Punjab Kings (PBKS) paid big bucks to bring in English all-rounder Sam Curran during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction held in Kochi on Friday, December 23. Curran initiated a bidding war between six teams but it was PBKS who won the final battle, shelling out a massive Rs 18.5 crore to procure Curran's services and make him the most expensive player in the history of the T20 league.
The soft-spoken dynamite of a player was 'overwhelmed' Sam Curran after a sleepless and nervous night ahead of the auction, "I didn't sleep much last night, was a bit excited, also nervous about how the auction was going to go. But yeah, absolutely overwhelmed and incredibly humbled that I managed to get what I did. I never had any expectations to receive that," Curran said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Live – Auction Special'.
Curran was the source of a bidding war between Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The 24-year-old said he is happy to be back with the Punjab outfit, with whom he made his IPL debut in 2019 when the side was still called Kings XI Punjab.
"Obviously, going back to where it all started for me in the IPL with Punjab, where I did my debut season four years ago. So, to be going back there seems fantastic and I am looking forward to joining a few English teammates as well," Curran said.
Curran's price might be warranted given his brilliant run during the T20 World Cup in Australia. He finished the tournament with 13 wickets in six matches and was awarded the Player-of-the-tournament while helping England win their second T20 World Cup title.
"Yeah, I think it will be very different, but I said, I know the stadium. I know Mohali pretty well so that obviously is a little bit of an advantage, having some familiar teammates who'll help me. I feel confident going into this tournament, where I've come off a fantastic World Cup. And yeah, it's amazing, I'm just incredibly excited, it's just a few months away till I will be coming to India, but it's incredibly exciting," he said.
"A massively big opportunity, which I'm so excited about, it's incredible as you can probably imagine. There are so many things running through my mind and yeah it's absolutely incredible, very overwhelmed," Curran concluded.
